Albany, New York

Parks

Thacher State Park

Thacher State Park is a 2,155-acre (872 ha) park located about 18 miles (29 km) west of Albany. The park is mostly situated in the Helderberg Escarpment (steep slope of a long cliff) with elevations ranging from 400 feet (120 meters) to 1,100 feet (335 meters). At strategic locations, the escarpment offers magnificent views of the Hudson Valley and the Albany area below. The park is a designated wildlife preserve with strict rules against removal of fossils, rocks, plants, and animals.

Thacher State Park is home to various species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. About two-thirds of the park comprises of upland forest dominated mainly by northern hardwoods. Ferns are found in the cool and damp areas of the park, especially along Indian Ladder Trail. Other habitats include red maple swamp, scrub swamp, and black oak swamp. The park is also a bird conservation area with more than 150 species of birds seen here including eagles, hawks, and warblers.

Recreational facilities include volleyball courts, ball fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and nine shelters that you can reserve. The Indian Ladder Trail takes visitors 60 feet (18 meters) down a metal staircase and follows a trail along the escarpment. Another is the Long Path Trail, which ends at the George Washington Bridge in New York City over a distance of 348 miles (559 km). There are also trails for mountain biking, winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiles.